Can you tell me about hearing aids?

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I think I need one but do I go to GP or somewhere like Boots for a hearing test? I did go to a Boots a couple of years ago and they said I had mild hearing loss but think it is getting worse.

I assume the Boots ones would be very expensive and the NHS ones maybe not so discreet.

Does anyone have any experience of what types/prices they are please?

Hello I would go tothe doctor and get an NHS referral.I started with private hearing aids that cost 2k and were rubbish.I purchased as I thought the NHS ones would be on a waiting list and massive.How wrong was I my NHS ones are far better quality and smaller than my private ones .I have mild/moderate hearing loss

GP for referral. I have a hearing aid and it's very discreet although I have long hair. I'm having a new one in a few weeks as mine is 9 years old. The new one is slightly bigger but I've been told the technology is more up to date.

My private ones were through a national company called Amplifon,NHS ones in my case are far better quality and people assume they are my private ones as they are small and discrete.I no longer wear my private ones as they became obsolete very quickly and could not be programmed to match my hearing loss

I have NHS ones for mild/moderate hearing loss. They are discreet enough that no one really notices unless I declare them. My sister didn't get on with her NHS ones as she has glasses and they were uncomfortable, so she shelled out £2k for the smaller ones via some savers. Hers do have better sound quality I think but personally I can cope with the NHS ones.

Go via the NHS. If aids are uncomfortable keep going back to get moulds adjusted or try mouldless ones; if they whistle etc then also go back to get adjusted.

Behind the ear ones look pretty similar so remember the NHS will order different colours of aid and mould on request (they often forget to ask adults and assume you want 'discreet' beige rather than red and black), and trust me people are really unobservant and won't notice even if you add jewellery and decals to them!
Consider if you want a volume control and whether you can turn them off without taking them out, and whether you can attach them to music players etc. Though NHS rarely provides the 'shoes' to connect them now, so they're about £50 from Connevans.

Thank you all for the help. I am surprised that the NHS ones are so good as I thought they would be cumbersome/huge/noticeable etc. I think i will see my GP and get a referral.